Camino LS6

Terrible, just terrible.

Tries too hard (especially the front).

Sorry to hear this, Roger. I know the feeling all too well. ...and will know it again.

It's a D8 sedan. There will be lots of pics soon, but here's one to tide you over: This is the day it arrived, and my parents posing with it.

Hmmm.

Rear quarters definitely look a bit screwy.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Stang!

RWD K-car?

And then, the empty skies.

and still the images are clear and raw. Certain bits of that horror still flash into my mind in total clarity. The sound of the firefighters alarms, the clouds of dust chasing survivors along the streets as they fled, a hole in the shape of an airplane, the skeletal remains of a famous facade balanced precariously at an impossible angle...

I'm exploring another option as well.

A fully restored 1961 Imperial Crown convertible - right here on the property as I type this. It is staying here tonight ahead of an appearance at a serious local Concours tomorrow. The car is stunning.

Your assessment is right on the money. The 68-72 cars are perfection in my mind - and the collonnades were something a bit less. But, they are affordable and can be built to be just as potent and clean. Same goes for the later downsized versions. For my part, I'm glad that my collonnades are appreciating in value - I really hadn't expected that. And they've grown on me over the years. The 68-72 cars will always be my favorites, but the collonnades stop better, handle better, and are more comfortable - so I'm happy to be preserving a couple of them.

I have to dispute a point or two with you, Hyper. These cars did hold up over time (after all, I have three in the barn right now). Locally, a well-preserved Cutlass, or Lemans, or Regal show up on CL fairly often. Even more common are the Chevelles and Monte Carlo of the era. Yes, rust and simple disregard claimed the majority of these cars for several decades, but they are far from disappearing. Also, on the parts front, aftermarket companies are finally realizing that there is an untapped market in parts for the collonnade cars. NOS stuff has been fairly easy for me to find as well for both the wagon and the Camino. There is an early Laguna coupe on CL right now (minus drivetrain) with a really decent body and a low price that I find tempting. Other examples are all around and car guys are more accepting of these cars as time goes by. Consequently, values have begun to rise. Now is the time to find a collonnade car before they cost too much.

Oh, Balthy...

Personal circumstances aside, it really is a very solid project truck. The easy availability of inexpensive parts makes it even more viable. Just about everything is available for these trucks.

Your best post ever, SMK! Bravo! That chop is hideous.

Long roof goodness.

CUVs are all awful, just terrible-looking things - all of them. And, I think this wagon would have sold pretty well. But that isn't why I called this decision a mistake. It's a mistake because the car is in production and all of the parts to make it happen here are in production. Anytime an opportunity like that exists, the bodystyle should be offered - even if on a limited basis. GM has been toying with the idea of creating families of cars (multiple bodystyles) on a single named model, and that's a great strategy. Every opportunity to re-introduce this concept should be taken to get folks used to it again. This approach is what made GM so successful in the past, and it will work again - if they commit to it. So, boo to this decision.

I think the Laguna wagon was available in '74 too.

If I remember correctly, an airline went this route but later returned to being a public company. The only hope for Saab is a buyer with deep pockets, a sense of commitment, and great patience.

Mistake.

That all depends on what you want out of it. I'd bet that it could be legal and roadworthy for a pittance. Now, beautiful and show-worthy is another story.

Why? Nothing telegraphs "lost cause" like such a takeover. Has that ever worked, anywhere? Saab's toast.

See if it will run with minimal effort, then reevaluate. Three years isn't all that long to sit.